Lebanese army gunners opened fired at two of the three Israeli reconnaissance drones Wednesday after they entered Lebanese airspace, a Lebanese security official and the state news agency said, amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
The incident occurred in the village of Adeisseh, a few miles from the Israeli border. The security official told The Associated Press that the drones left Lebanese airspace after being fired on and that none of them were shot down.
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The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Another Lebanese security source told Reuters that troops fired shots from M16 assault rifles. The Lebanese army does not possess air defense systems.
The IDF in a statement acknowledged the confrontation, although it said that none of its drones were shot down.
"Approximately an hour ago, shots were heard from Lebanese territory toward an air space in which IDF drones were operating. The drones completed their mission and no IDF damage was reported," the statement said.
The incident came just days after an alleged Israeli drone crashed in a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, landing on the terrorist group's Beirut media office while another exploded midair and crashed nearby.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called it an act of aggression and vowed to retaliate and confront Israeli drones in Lebanese skies from now on. On Monday, Israeli drones attacked a Palestinian base in the country's east, further raising tensions.
Israeli forces along the border with Lebanon are on high alert, raising fears of a repeat of the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
The Lebanese army and government officials have also described the drone crash incidents and Monday's attack as blatant acts of aggression and violations of sovereignty. Following an emergency security meeting, the military asserted Lebanon's right to self-defense.
The Lebanese military's response on Wednesday night appeared to send the message that the Lebanese government, not just Hezbollah, will act against Israel.
